Electric switch.



C. .l.v SUTTER. LELECTIRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1914.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916 CHARLES J. SUTTER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mai". Isl, l jiti.

Application filed Apri1 1, 1914. Serial No. 828,708.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLEs I. SUTT'ER, a citizen of the United States of America, a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My inventicn relates to an electric switch and has for its object to provide a switch which may be operated in part by a push member and in part by a pull member, the push member serving to open or break an electric circuit and the pull member serving to close or complete an electric circuit.

My switch is one intended more particularly for use in hospitals and the purpose of the invention is to furnish a switch which invalids may manipulate for the operation of signals in summoning attendants.

One of the prime aims in my present improvement is to provide a switch operating means which may be utilized by an invalid at a distance from the switch, with a minimum of exertion; and another of the prime aims of my invention is to provide a switch operating means of this kind which may be readily sterilized after used by a patient, or, being inexpensive, may be discarded after such use by one patient to be replaced by a. new and similar switch operating means, hence improving the sanitary conditions surrounding the patients of a hospital as compared with-those existing in hospitals where the ordinary or usual type of electric switches and switch operating means are employed.

A further object of my invention is to dis pense entirely with the use of extension electric cords commonly employed for signal purposes in hospitals in conjunction with switches, in order that patients may give signals. although located at a distance from the switches. I obviate the use of such extension electric cords by utilizing a nonelectric pull cord by which the switch may be closed. Such a cord may be furnished at a minimum of expense as compared with an electric cord and the cost of it is greatly less than the electric cord, as is also the cost of maintenance of service as compared with the use of electric cords. Furthermore a non-electric cord is much more desirable for the purpose intended, owing to the absence of danger of electric shocks to patients, and

the absence of fire hazard incident to the use of electric cords.

Figure I is a front elevation of my electric switch. Fig. II is a rear elevation of the switch. Fig. III is a longitudinal section through the switch. Fig. IV is a cross section taken on line IV-IV, Fig. II.

In the accompanying drawings: 1 designates the contact base of my switch in which are openings 2 and 3. The contact base preferably has fixed to it a face plate 4, provided with apertures, corresponding in location to the locations of the apertures 2 and 3.

My switch, in its preferred form, includes a post 5 to which one of the terminals of a wire circuit is connected, this post being attached to the contact base 1 between the openings 2 and 8. and a pair of contact clips 6 to which another terminal of the electric circuit wires is connected.

7 designates a contact carrier pivoted to the post 5 and provided with contact points 8 movable to and from the. clips 6.

9 designates a push pin provided with a push button 10. This push pin is operable in suitable fixed guide members 11 and 12 attached to the contact base 1 and the button of the pin is operable in the opening 2 in said contact base. A spring 13, surrounding the push pin, tends to exert a backward force upon the push pin.

14 designates a connection spring having its ends attached to the push pin 9 and the contact carrier 7. The ends of this connection spring are so attached to the push pin and contact carrier as to provide for the end of the spring connected to the push pin passing inwardly beyond a line drawn longitudinally of a contact carrier through the point of attachment of the spring to the con tact carrier and the axis on which the contact carrier turns with the result of causing the contact carrier to be held in the retracted position seen in dotted lines Fig. III. This construction also provides for the connecting spring 14. occupying at another time the position as seen in full lines Fig. III, so that the force exerted thereby upon the contact carrier 7 is in front of the axis of a contact carrier and the connection spring performs the service of holding the contact points in engagement with the contacts 6.

15 designates a main pull cord attached to the contact carrier 7 and extending through the opening 3 in the contact base 1, this pull cord being preferably provided with a loop 16.

17 is an extension pull cord detachably connected to the main pull cord .15 by suitable means such as a snap hook 18. This extension pull cord is made of sufficient length to reach from the switch to a bed or chair occupied by'a patient and the cord is preferably provided with a knob 19 which may be conveniently gripped by the patient to exert a pull upon the cord.

In the use of my switch a previously existing circuit is broken by moving the contact carrier 7 from the position seen in full lines Fig. III to the position seen in dotted lines, same view, this movement being intended to be accomplished by inward pressure upon the push button 10 which causes the push pin 9 and the connection spring 14 to be mow ed from full line position to dotted line position. In conse quence of such movement the connection spring is carried past the dead center encountered in the course of movement of the contact carrier 7, and said contact carrier isad'justed to the dotted line position and held thereat, notwithstanding the force of the spring 13. When a patient desires to give a signal, 'by closing the circuit in which the switch is included, he may readily do so by a slight pull upon the extension pull cord 17 which causes the contact'carrier to move to the full line position in Fig. III, thereby closing the circuit, due to the engagement of the contacts 8 with the contacts 6. In the latter movement of the contact carrier the point of attachment between the contact carrier and the connection spring 14 passes the dead center, encountered in the course of movement of the contact carrier, and the connection spring becomes disposed in front of the axis of the contact carrier, so that its force is exerted to hold the contacts 8 in engagement with the contacts 6, after the pull cord has been released. The spring 13 surrounding the push pin 9 assists in the outward movement of the push' pin and serves to hold the connection spring 14 in this forward position.

I claim 1. An electric switch comprising a contact base, a contact supported by said base,

a contact carrier supported by said base movable to and from said contact, a push pin, a connection spring connecting said contact carrier to said push pin, the said connection spring being adapted to impart movement to said contact carrier in one direction upon inward movement of the push pin, and a pull cord connected to said contact carrier whereby the latter may be moved in the opposite direction.

2. An electric switch comprising a contact base, a contact carried by said base, a contact carrier pivotally connected to said base and adapted to be moved to and from said contact, a push pin, a. connection spring having its ends attached to said push pin and contact carrier, the said connection spring being movable to opposite sides of the axis of said contact carrier, and a pull member for operating said contact carrier in one direction.

3. A wall switch comprising a contact base, a cover plate in front of said contact base, a contact supported by said base, a spring actuated contact carrier supported by said base movable to and from said contact, a switch opening device including a button extending through said cover plate and associated with said spring actuated contact carrier to open an electric circuit, and a switch closing device including a pull cord passing through said cover plate and associated with said spring actuated contact carrier to close the electric circuit.

4. A wall switch comprising a contact base, a cover plate in front of said contact base, a contact supported'by said base, a contact carrier supported by said base movable to and from said contact; and switch operating devices including a push button extending throu h said cover plate, a pull cord extending through said cover plate and a spring associated with said contact carrier, said contact carrier being movable 

